Dear Beagle Middle School Families,
Thank you for another great week here at Beagle Middle. Students are doing an outstanding job settling back into the routine of school; in fact, it’s like we really never left for summer vacation. Because of your continued support, we are off to another great start. As we head into next week, we wanted to share some updates and reminders:
How are we doing?: We would love you feedback regarding the beginning of the school year. Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey: https://forms.gle/YHAQNoACsqyQo2bA6
NWEA Testing Next Week: Next week on Wednesday, September 10th, students will engage in NWEA testing Math. They will do so by reporting directly to Check and Connect (CNC) class in lieu of first hour. Students will have all morning in their CNC class to complete NWEA Math. Then, we will run an altered schedule for the rest of the day that will include hours 1-6 and lunch. Afternoon classes will be about 25 minutes in duration. The following Wednesday we will rinse and repeat for NWEA ELA. Students that are absent for NWEA testing will be called down to the media center on following days to complete the assessment.
Spirit Week Next Week: Next week is homecoming week at GLHS. Our Beagle Comet Council has chosen the following attire for our students to show school spirit next week: Monday: PJ Day; Tuesday: Twisted Tuesday (students dress like teachers, teachers dress like students); Wednesday: Twin with Your Friends; Thursday: 7th grade orange, 8th grade green, and Staff are purple; and Friday: Comet Gear.
Content and Homework: With last week being the first week of school and a shortened week, our teaching staff spent a great deal of time getting to know their students; building social contracts; and reviewing routines, procedures, and expectations. This week, our teaching staff began to lean into actual content for their courses, which is a progressional process at the middle level for a various reasons, mainly we need to help get our 7th graders over the hurdle of the middle school experience. Attending 6 different classes with a bell schedule is very new to our 7th grade students, and we need to support them with this first before we dive into content. Essentially, we are systematically working our students through the middle school experience as that is what’s best for the whole child. Next week, our teaching staff will continue to engage students in the curriculum, and some students may receive homework next week. Our 7th grade team eases into this slowly because our 7th graders are not used to receiving homework. Throughout the year, students will have small amounts of homework on a regular basis. The good news is that during Check and Connect on Tuesdays and Thursdays, our students are able to complete homework assignment, prepare for test/quizzes, and organize their school materials with teacher support.
Family Communication Archive: As we have shared in the past, our teaching staff communicates directly with students and family members within PowerSchool via the Family Communication Archive, which is posted at the top of each teacher’s grade book. This is where teaching staff will share information about current content and topics covered in class, upcoming larger assignment or assessments, and other pieces of pertinent information. These posts are updated every other week, and this platform prevents family members from being inundated with emails. Also, many of our teachers use Google Classroom or Schoology as an online platform to house content-based materials as another resource for both students and family members.
Check and Connect Class: Now that the year is up and running, we wanted to discuss with our family members the purpose of Check and Connect. Check and Connect is an end-of-the day class that is designed to help support the whole child. These classes are intentionally smaller than other classes in an effort to support the teacher to student connection. On Mondays, our teachers provide all students with structured and team-built Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons. Tuesdays and Thursdays are specifically designed for organization, homework completion, test preparation, and staff support in the aforementioned areas. Wednesdays are IXL days where students work on specific skills plans, which are created by IXL based NWEA performance throughout the year. Fridays are for team-building activities and/or catch from earlier in the week. Check and Connect class is also where students take NWEA assessments throughout the year.
Comet PRIDE Store: Today during both lunches, our Comet PRIDE store will be open, and this is where our students can cash in their Comet PRIDE tickets they have earned so far this year for demonstrating Comet PRIDE here at Beagle. Our PRIDE store is open every other Friday during both lunches for our students.
8th Grade: America and Me Essay Contest: On Monday, 8th grade ELA teachers will be introducing students to a voluntary essay contest. This is the 57th year for the America and Me essay contest sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance. Students are welcome to participate in the contest if they choose. Teachers will be available for questions and will give students due dates for those that wish to participate. The top three essayists will receive a certificate and first place receives a commemorative pen and the opportunity to compete at the state level for a $1000, a plaque, and medallion. Good Luck 8th Graders!
Grand Ledge Archery: Archery season is about to start up mid-September. Please click here for more information: Archery.docx
Hayes/Beagle PTO Meeting: Our first PTO meeting will be held here at Beagle Middle in our Media Center on Tuesday, September 9th at 6:30pm. We encourage family members to attend these meetings. We have a strong joint PTO thanks to the many volunteers that serve, and our PTO does a great deal for both school and our community. Please join us if you are able to do so. Please also know that attendance at one meeting does not necessitate or require future attendance; in short, family participation is consistently a “no strings attached” approach.
Upcoming Events, District News, & Community Information: To review what the school district shares in newsletters about events, news, and information, please visit http://GLcomets.net/Upcoming.
Upcoming Important Dates:
9/10/24–NWEA Testing: Math
9/12/24–Kona Ice, both lunches, proceeds go directly back to students to help fund our Comet PRIDE school store.
9/17/24–NWEA Testing; ELA
9/23/24–School Picture Retakes
10/3/24–No Students, District-Wide Professional Development
These are all of the updates we have at this time. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Take care,
Dave and Kelly
